Abhimanyu Samanta Singhara (, 23 February 1760 – 15 Jun 1806) was an 18th-century

Odia Odia, also spelled Oriya or Odiya, may refer to: * Odia people in Odisha, India * Odia language, an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family * Odia alphabet, a writing system used for the Odia languag ...

poet born in Balia, Jajpur best known as the writer of the iconic ''Bidagdha Chintamani'' kabya. Abhimanyu was one of the important musician-poets in the tradition of

Odissi music music () is a genre of classical music in India, originated from the eastern state of Odisha. The traditional ritual music for the service of Lord Jagannatha, Odissi music has a history spanning over two thousand years, authentic ''sangita-shas ...

in the 18th century, composing mainly in the ''Chhānda'' style. He has also written many Odia folk songs like Bagha Gita (

tiger The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus '' Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on u ...

song), Chadhei Gita (

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

song). He has written many poems about the love between

Radha Radha ( sa, राधा, ), also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. She is the avatar of goddess Lakshmi and is also de ...

and

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

Life

He was born in Balia village, Jajpur on 23 February 1760. Balia village is situated near famous Buddhist place Ratnagiri Mahavihara of Jajpur. His father Indrajita Samanta Singhara had no child. But it is said that Abhimanyu was born due to the worship of a saint, Sadananda Kabisujrya Brahma. He was the teacher of Abhimanyu. He had written his first poem at the age of 9. Abhimanyu employs several dozen ragas in his range of works, employing both well-known and rarer ancient ''ragas'' of the Odissi music tradition. In his magnum opus ''Bidagdha Chintamani'', he uses several ragas for the 98 ''chhānda'' songs, such as ''Chakrakeli, Chokhi, Chinta Kamodi, Bangalasri, Dhanasri, Rasakulya, Sankarabharana, Kalyana Ahari, Kumbha Kamodi, Bibhasa, Kedara Kamodi, Ahari, Bhairaba, Gouri, Ramakeri, Kali, Ghantaraba, Kalyana, Kanada, Kamodi, Baradi, Malaba, Sindhuda, Kedara Gouda, Saranga, Purbi, Ranabije, Lalita Kamodi, Chalaghanta, Kedara, Rasa Kedara, Soka Kamodi, Jayanta Kala, Bichitra Desakhya, Pahadia Kedara, Patamanjari, Malasri, Dhipa, Bhupala, Asabari, Lalita Kedara, Gujjari, Mukhari, Panchama Baradi, Nalinigouda, Kalahansa Kamodi, Mangala, etc.'' Following the ancient music of Odisha, Abhimanyu particularly excels in the usage of ''jugma-ragas'', complex ragas formed by the union of two or more ragas, such as ''Pahadia Kedara, Kalyana Ahari, Bibhasa Kedara,'' etc.

Literary works

* Bidagdha Chintamani * Prema (Preeti) Chintamani * Prema Kala * Rasabati * Sulakhyana * Prema Tarangini * Bagha Gita * Chadhei Gita * Bole Hun

References

External references

* History of Odia literature, Mayadhar Manasingh, Publisher: Grantha Mandira * Prachina Odia Kabita Sambhara, Editor: Jatindra Mohan Mohanty, Publisher: Subarnarekha, Bhubaneswar * Utkala Lakshmi, Gangadhar Granthabali(Odia), Das Brothers, Cuttack-Berhampur- Sambalpur, 3rd reprint, 1961 * Fakirmohan Senapatinka Atmacharita (Odia), Edited by Debendra Kumar Dash, National Book Trust, New Delhi, Reprint, 2015, pp-58 {{Authority control 1760 births 1806 deaths Poets from Odisha People from Jajpur district Indian male poets Odia-language poets Odissi music composers 18th-century Indian poets 19th-century Indian poets